Douganhill Texel tops record Highland Show sheep entry

Judge, Archie MacGregor, Allanfauld, Kilsyth, soon whittled down the champion winners from the two previous days to his top four, but admitted that selecting an inter-breed winner was more difficult.

“It was very close between the top two as both were fantastic animals. The Texel gimmer will make a great ewe and the North Country Cheviot is a terrific female with great carcase and character,” he said.

“I was looking for a champion winner with a good carcase and that wee bit extra breed character which makes the difference between a good animal and a very good animal, added Mr MacGregor, who presented the honourary reserve to the supreme Suffolk from Stewart Craft, Glenrothes and the inter-breed male title to a crossing-type Bluefaced Leicester champion from the Wights at Midlock.

Show stopper was a home-bred Texel gimmer from Douganhill, brought out by farm manager, Brian MacTaggart and son David, who were back exhibiting at the Highland following a 12-year absence. Producing a personal best here for this 150-ewe flock was an AI daughter of the 70,000gns Teiglum Young Gun bred from a ewe by Cairnam Tavish. She was champion at Dumfries and first in her class at Stewartry Show, last year.

Giving her a real run for her money was the Northie champion, Hownam Grange Victoria, a two-crop ewe from Willie Thomson and his father Jimmy, Hownam Grange, Kelso, who are no strangers to the inter-breed honours here and further afield. She bagged several championship titles last year and is by Wandylaw Scrumpyjack, out of a ewe by Durran Peebles.

Flying the flag for the Suffolk breed to win the honourary reserve, was a massive one-crop ewe from new breeder, Stewart Craft, Glenrothes, who last year bought the entire Lakeview flock from Irish breeder, Gary Beacom. His big winner, which last year won the Northern Ireland championship, is by the 36,000gns Solwaybank Major.

The Wights from Midlock, Crawford, were again in the tickets too, lifting the supreme male honours with a massive home-bred crossing-type Bluefaced Leicester shearling ram. The family, who also lifted the reserve honours in the breed, topped the Blues with a son of the £10,000 K1 Highberries that scooped the male championship amongst the Blues here last year.

The inter-breed pairs judged the following day by Pat Greaney, from, Usk, who has worked with all types of pedigree and commercial cattle and sheep, resulted in a Rouge pairing from Percy Tait’s Knighton flock from Worcester taking the supreme with the Blackface duo in reserve.

“The Rouge were outstanding. They handled evenly, were great movers with great tops and they were not over fat,” said Mr Greaney, who although Irish and now living in Wales, has always lived for the Highland Show.

“I always look forward to the Highland Show as it is here that I learnt so much of my stockmanship skills – watching the top show men and women exhibiting their cattle and sheep. My father taught me so much when I was a boy, but it has been attending the Highland Show every year where I learnt about real stockmanship, what contributed to a champion winner and how to bring out animals to their best.”

His choice of champion winners comprised the unbeaten two-crop show ewe, Knighton Sugar Tits, brought out by flock manager, Will Price and the male champion, a home-bred two-shear ram by Tullyvallen Irish – a ram bought at Carlisle, in 2016, out of Knighton Kinky Kitten, from the same home. He was champion at Shropshire, Staffordshire and North Somerset Shows and was shown by Kirree Kermode.

The Blackface pairing was made up of the champion, Cara, a home-bred one-crop ewe from the Ramsay family from Milnmark, Corsock, and the male champion, a home-bred shearling ram from Hugh Hamilton, Crosswoodhill, brought out by young Finlay Robertson.

Young handlers

A massive entry of 70 young handlers attracted a huge ringside crowd and resulted in new record, when 12-year-old Katie Aiken, was crowned supreme – for a third time.

"The secret to being a good handler is being able to watch the judge while also presenting your animal to its best at all times and Katie did just that. She has the same ability as many adult showmen and women," said the judge Pat Greaney who also praised his choice of reserve, Sienna Nisbet from Mauchline.

"She's special, a real show person, full of personality and eager to win," added Mr Greaney

Young Katie Aiken and her younger brother Robbie, are no strangers to the show ring, having been brought up helping out with the pedigree Beltex and Texel sheep flocks at Procters Farm, Slaidburn, managed by their parents, Jeff and Jennifer Aiken. As a result, both have triumphed at young handlers competitions up and down the country.

At the show, Katie was exhibiting a Texel ewe lamb which earlier in the week stood fourth in a particularly strong class.

Just pipped at the post, was the winner of the junior section, nine-year-old Sienna Nisbet, who is also well acquainted with the show ring, exhibiting cattle and sheep from the family farm at Sorn Mains, Mauchline, Ayrshire.

Sienna stood second in her class here last year and for the competition was showing a home-bred Bluefaced Leicester lamb from the Nisbets flock

Suffolk

New kid on the bloc, Stewart Craft, Glenrothes, had a field day amongst a bigger and better show of Suffolks, winning a heap of red rosettes and the supreme overall for his first year exhibiting at Ingliston.

Mr Craft, who bought Gary Beacom’s entire Lakeview flock from Northern Ireland privately, last year, went straight to the top with one of those purchases – a daughter of the 36,000gns Solwaybank Major, out of a Lakeview ewe by Cairness Classic Fyvie. A big winner for Mr Beacom last year, she won the Northern Ireland championship last year, prior to being sold.

Bryden and Joanna Nicolson’s Knockem flock from Duns, was also in the tickets picking up the reserve overall with the second prize ewe to the champion and the top award amongst the males.

Their top female was a three-crop ewe bought from Ross Lawrence’s Roundacre flock at the Dark Diamonds sale at Carlisle as a ewe lamb for 5800gns. A daughter of the 10,000gns Deveronside Doodlebug, out of a ewe by Cairness Classic Fyvie, she was also reserve here in 2017.

The 15-strong Knockem ewee flock which runs alongside a bigger Texel enterprise picked up the male tri-colour with a January-born tup lamb out of reserve overall. He is by the 21,000gns Lakeview Bob – a tup sold at the National sale in 2017 – and is destined for the breed event at United Auctions’ Stirling sale next month.

A massive home-bred two-shear ram from the Ingram family – William and Carole, sons, Gregor and Bruce and daughter Amy who are better known for the pedigree Bluefaced Leicesters, Charollais and Texels from Logie Durno, Inverurie – bagged the blue and white sash.

Their best, Logie Durno Sonny Bill, by Bentley Flyhalf – a tup bought at Builth Wells – stood first at Turriff last year and is one of several stock rams used in the 120-ewe flock which was showing Suffolks here for the first time in almost 20 years.

NCC Park-type

There was a double celebration in the Northie lines when Willie Thomson and his father Jimmy, from Hownam Grange, Kelso, won a second consecutive breed title and two days later scooped the reserve inter-breed sheep honours.

Show stopper this year for the 500-ewe flock which runs alongside a further 900 hill-type Cheviots, was a cracking two-crop ewe by Wandylaw Scrumpyjack, a tup bought at Lockerbie for the bargain price of £650, out of Durran Peebles-sired daughter. Christened Hownam Grange Victoria, by Willie’s daughter Georgia after she won the young handlers section at Yetholm Show with her, this big girl also boasts championship wins at the National Show at Kelso in 2017, and the supreme female at the Great Yorkshire and overall champion of champions at Glendale, last year. She will also heading down to the Great Yorkshire, next month.

Allanshaws Will-I-Am, a two-shear ram from Roderick, Rocket Runciman, Allanshaws, Galashiels, followed her all the way to secure the reserve overall after picking up the male championship.

He boasts prize winning genetics in his pedigree with the sire being the retained tup, Allanshaws Triple Twenty, a son of the noted breeding show tup Synton Bullseye and bred from a previous top show ewe.

Allanshaws bloodlines were also behind the second best male – a home-bred shearling ram from the Campbell family’s Bardnaclavan flock, shown by son Jonny, all the way from Thurso.

Their previously unshown tup which is destined for the ram sales at Quoybrae, is by Allanshaws Tank, a son of a Pengroes ram bought privately at the Royal Welsh after standing second in his class. The dam, a home-bred ewe, is by Smiddyquoy Freelander.

The equivalent amongst the females was also far travelled being presented to a home-bred gimmer from James MacKay and his daughter Jacqueline’s Caithness-based Biggins flock. The duo, who were exhibiting here for the first time in 15 years only entered two sheep, which scooped a red and a blue ticket, triumphed with a triplet-born gimmer by Overton Wizard, a tup bought privately from Margaret Gowe, bred from a home-bred ewe.

Blackface

The Ramsay family’s reserve female champion from last year went one better to lift the section championship and the supreme overall in a bigger Blackie competition which saw in excess of 100 head forward.

Their show stopper from Milnmark, Dalry, Castle Douglas, was the one-crop ewe Cara, a daughter of a £16,000 Dyke that also scooped the breed honours at Stranraer and Dumfries, last year. Her dam – one of 2000 ewes managed by the family – is by a home-bred son of a £26,000 Crossflatt.

The family, which was winning a sixth breed championship here, also landed the runner-up female and reserve overall honours with a home-bred gimmer. She boasts some first class genetics being sired by the £55,000 East Happrew Sir John, and out of a ewe by a home-bred son of a £7500 Clanary.

While it was a good day for the Ramsays, it was an even better show for 16-year-old Finlay Robertson and his father John, who brought out the male champion, a previously unshown home-bred shearling ram from Hugh Hamilton, Crosswoodhill, who was exhibiting here for the first time. He is by a £1900 Williamhope and out of a ewe by a £3600 Crosswoodburn which together with the overall champion, provided the reserve overall in the inter-breed pairs competition on the Sunday.

Second best male was a two-shear ram from John Marshall’s Gosland flock from Broughton, Biggar, brought out by shepherd Willie Craig. Their big tup, a son of a £14,000 Dalchirla, was bought at Stirling last year from breeder Stuart MacDougall, Millhouse. The dam is by a £4600 Auldhouseburn

Lleyn

A massive two-shear ram from John Geldard and sons Richard and Charles’ 1000 ewe flock from Kendal, stepped up to the mark to win the supreme overall in a strong Lleyn section.

The flock which was winning a fourth such title here in eight years exhibiting, lifted the tri-colour with a son of Botacho Will Will, a prize winning ram bought at Ross on Wye in 2015, which stood first in his class here and at the Royal Welsh, in 2016. The dam is home-bred.

David and Becky Henderson’s Toucks flock from Stonehaven, was also in the tickets, winning the female champion and reserve overall and the runner-up trophy amongst the males. Their top female was a home-bred one-crop ewe from by the Carlisle purchase, Blakey Netherton, out of a home-bred ewe that goes back to a foundation female from the Insheoch flock.

Taking the blue and white sash amongst the males for the 200-ewe flock, was a home-bred two-shear ram that stood second in his class to the champion. He is by a Goldies ram bought out of Stirling out of a John Blakey-bred ewe purchased at Carlisle in a pen of 20 in 2014.

Runner up amongst the girls was a previously unshown home-bred gimmer from Derek and Cindy Stein, Lockerbie. She is by a Goldies ram bought at Carlisle for £4500.

Ryeland

Craig Wilson sheep auctioneer, Andrew Hunter Blair, who runs just seven ewes in his Carsfad flock, picked up his fourth breed title in a competitive Ryeland section.

Mr Hunter Blair from Castle Douglas, took all the plaudits with the home-bred gimmer, Carsfad Yaas Queen, a daughter of the retained stock ram, Carsfad Valencia which is sired by the 2017 Scottish Ryeland champion, Ashgrove UK. Reserve champion at Ayr in May, she also boasts top winners on her dam’s side with the mother being Huntsmoor Tia Maria, a ewe bought out of Ludlow that is a former champion winner at Wigtown Show.

Chartered surveyor, Eddie Henderson and his wife, Janice from Kinross, had plenty to smile about too when they bagged the top two awards amongst the males. Their home-bred shearling ram, Landriggs Yogi, a son of the retained Landriggs X Special which stood first in his class here in 2017, also scooped the reserve overall championship. Bred from a home-bred ewe by Mansel Pride, this white ram stood second in his class here last year and last month, was placed third at Lesmahagow.

The 12-strong ewe flock landed the blue and white sash amongst the males with a previously unshown January-born ram lamb by Landriggs Wildthing – the breed champion here in 2016. Landriggs ZZ Top is out of a home-bred ewe by Landriggs Tullibardine.

The equivalent amongst the females saw a win for Harper Adams agri student, Philippa Gray, Halifax, who was exhibiting sheep from her Northedge flock for the second time here. Her top winner was Northedge Yorkshire Rose, a home-bred gimmer by Ebor Topcat, out of Moss Meadow.

Commercial

It was a case of beginner’s luck in the commercial lines when Tulloch Farm’s manager, Iain Wilson, triumphed to win the supreme overall in his first year exhibiting.

Mr Wilson from Upper Coullie, Laurencekirk, runs 35 Half-bred ewes which are crossed to a Suffolk and it was one of those breeding females that landed the big one. His gimmer was bought in a pen at St Boswells last year from Stobshiels Mains and last month picked up the commercial championship at Fife.

Despite being hosts for the previous week’s highly successful Highland Sheep event, Kenneth Sutherland and sons Stephen and Kenneth, still had time to prepare for the event and were rewarded with the reserve honours. Their previously unshown Texel cross two-crop ewe, from Sibmister Farm, Caithness, is out of a Cheviot Mule ewe and was bought at Longtown as a ewe lamb from Ian Smith, West Bolton. She was shown with March-born twin lambs at foot by a home-bred Texel.

March-born Beltex cross lambs from Andrew and Hilary Morton, son Andrew and daughter Kirsty, Lochend, Denny, triumphed to win the tri-colour amongst the prime lambs. They are by a home-bred sire.

Border Leicester

Regular winners, Alex Watson and his father Sandy, had another good year amongst the Borders winning two of the top four awards.

Included in this was the overall championship which was presented to a home-bred five-crop ewe from the duo’s 24-strong Intock flock from Muthill, Crieff. A twin sister to Intock Sandy, a former champion winner at the pre-sale show at the Kelso Ram Sales, she is by Didcot Drambuie, out of a ewe by Eildon Eager and stood second here last year.

Also heading home with the Intock flock was the trophy for the runner-up male for Didcot Diamond, a shearling ram that stood champion at the Lanark sale last year for his breeder Keith Hourston. He stood second in his class to the male champion and is by Ditton Grand Prix, out of a Didcot ewe by Lammermuir Lightning.

Male champion and reserve overall was Newton Mearns-based Duncan Whyte’s Ditton Almighty, a shearling ram bought last year at Lanark for £900 from Matt Steel. A son of Lammermuir Jake, out of a ewe by Eildon Bossy Boots, he was on his first outing since the sale.

It was a well-known show female that lifted the runner-up silverware amongst the girls when a home-bred two-crop ewe from John Barrowman’s Knockglass flock from Stranraer, was tapped forward. This was last year’s champion which was also breed leader at the National as a gimmer the previous year. A daughter of Eildon Epic, she is bred from a show ewe by Holburn Limited Edition.

Berrichon

It was very much a red letter day for Ewan Burgess who owns just 12 ewes in his Criffel flock when he secured his first supreme overall at Ingliston with a home-bred entry.

Producing a second overall championship win here for the Dumfriesshire-based flock from Maryfield, New Abbey, was Criffel Tui, a gimmer by Criffel Spartan out of a home-bred ewe. Placed at Cumbernauld the previous week, she was also second at Dumfries, last year.

Regular winner, Arabella Johnston who owns the Kirkton flock from Falkirk, was again in the tickets winning the reserve overall and the male championship.

Following the female champion all the way to the overall, was the previously unshown second prize gimmer, Kirkton Tiquila, which went on to lift the reserve supreme. She is backed by home-bred genetics on both sides being a daughter of the Sunnycroft Streamline son, Kirkton Kissogram, out of a ewe by Kirkton Jupiter.

Kirkton Kissogram, a ram retained for breeding was also behind the male champion, Kirkton Rolex, a massive three-shear ram that stood second to the champion here last year. He is bred from a former show ewe that was reserve female here in 2012, by Kirkton Jupiter.

Frances Barbour’s Newark flock from Sanquhar, was in the silverware too, winning the reserve male trophy with the three-shear ram, Galtress Prince, which stood second here last year to the champion. He was bought at the breed sale at Carlisle for 1000gns from his breeder, Debra Whitcher in 2017 and is by Woodston Luigi.

Jacob

It was a roll-over year amongst the busy Jacob lines when Arbroath breeders, Willie and Edith Crowe, won their second consecutive supreme overall with the stock tup, Gowanbank Hector.

This home-bred two-shear ram is by Hope Laddie and out of a Hope-bred ewe bred by Sue Harris – one of only seven ewes in the flock which has secured no fewer than 12 championships at the Highland over the years.

Young Adam Christie (18), scored a hat-trick too when an entry from his 20-ewe Adamski flock from Huntly, bagged a third consecutive lamb championship which this year went on to stand reserve overall.

Producing a second runner-up win here was Adamski Mary Queen of Scots, an end of January-born ewe lamb, so called as Adam’s father, Gary had to lamb her when the family was half way through viewing the film! The entry by Hope Knockout and out of a Milldale ewe bought privately from the Crowes, was also shown by Gary as Adam was on holiday in France.

Following her to lift the runner-up female honours was a home-bred gimmer from Robert Locker’s Edingale flock from Greenlaw, Berwickshire. Reserve female at the Scottish National at Fife, in May, she is got by frozen semen from Hope Rocky and is out of a home-bred ewe.

A home-bred shearling ram from Gordon Connor and Scott Dalrymple’s Dun-Mor flock from Linlithgow, took the equivalent amongst the males. He boasts home-bred show winners on both sides being sired by Dun Mor Ace, a former champion winner here, out of a home-bred show gimmer.

North Country Cheviot hill-type

The Allens – Bill and Kate, son Dallas and daughter Kate – Alnwick, had plenty to celebrate amongst a strong show or Lairg-type Chevies, when their tup notched the supreme overall.

Their big four-shear ram which was bought last year at Lairg for £11,000, was bred by Hughie Mackenzie, flock manager of Badanloch Estate, Kinbrace, who sold the ram. He is by North Lochnaver Nomad, a tup bought privately, and out of a Badanloch-bred ewe.

Badanloch Estate’s 1050-ewe flock enjoyed it’s best ever Highland, lifting the reserve honours in both the male and the female sections.

Standing next in line to the supreme overall for the male title was a three-shear ram bought at Lairg last year for £9500 from the Douglas family’s Whitehope flock. He is by Attonburn Rebus.

Lifting the equivalent amongst the females was a previously unshown home-bred suckled gimmer, again by North Lochnaver Nomad, out of a ewe by Auchentoul Tank.

Female champion and reserve overall was a three-crop ewe on her first outing from Michael Elliot’s Woodside flock from Kelso. She is by Hartside Hill Raul and out of a ewe by Kelsocleugh Jocky, one of only 650 ewes bred pure.

Cheviot

While it was a good party in the Northie lines, the celebrations amongst the Southies were even bigger when Dumfriesshire-based, Jim Robertson, Becks, Lockerbie, won the overall championship in his first year exhibiting.

Mr Robertson, who judged the event last year and was so impressed by the quality of stock forward decided to enter this year, went straight to the top with the three-shear ram, Castle Crusader, brought out by Mark (Fred) Little. Bred at Castle Crawford, this previously unshown ram was bought at Lockerbie in 2017 for £5500, and is by a Crossdykes Juggernaut out of a ewe by Mountbenger President.

Female champion and reserve overall was a home-bred three-crop ewe from Norman and David Douglas’ Catslackburn unit from Yarrow. She is by Hislop Ultra, a £4500 purchase that bred last year’s champion winner at Kelso Show and out of a home-bred ewe – one of 800 bred pure.

Catslackburn genetics were also behind the runner up male which stood second in his class to the champion. This was George Irving’s two-shear ram, bought last year at Lockerbie from the Douglas’ for £2000. The tup from Mountbenger, Yarrow, is by the £11,000 Catslack Topspot.

And a gimmer ‘straight off the hill’ three days before the show kicked off, bagged the runner-up ticket amongst the females for Billy Common’s Crossdykes flock from Lockerbie. Previously unshown, she is by a home-bred son of Castle Wizard retained for breeding, and out of a ewe by Potholm Ten to Five.

Texel

There were parties all week down the sheep lines, but the biggest would undoubtedly have been the Texels’ when Douganhill Farms added a third breed title to their belt following a 12-year absence.

Add to that the flock winning it’s first Highland inter-breed championship, and the celebrations lasted well into the weekend.

Show stopper for farm manager Brian MacTaggart and son David, who attend to the flock’s 150 pedigree Texel ewes and 1100 commercials, was a home-bred gimmer got through AI by the 70,000gns Teiglum Young Gun. She is bred from a home-bred ewe by Cairnam Tavish and stood champion at Dumfries last year and first in her class at Stewartry.

There was a double celebration for Mike and Melanie Alford, Devon too. Having scooped the Limousin championship the previous day, the couple who own just five pedigree Texel females lifted the reserve overall with the second best female, and the male championship.

Their top winner was a suckled gimmer that had been bought at Lanark last year from Robert Bennett’s Plasucha flock for 18,000gns. An ET daughter bred from a Garngour Upperclass-sired dam, she is by Eden Valley Wiz Kid and stood fourth here last year and champion at Shropshire County.

Male champion was a three-shear Midlock-bred ram bought at Kelso in 2017 for £23,000. He is by an £1800 Midlock son of the 18,000gns Sportsmans Unbeatable, and boasts championship wins at the Royal Cornwall and Devon Country.

Last year’s champion winners, William Knox and sons Graeme and Andrew, Mid Haddo, Turriff, this year had to settle with the reserve male award with Strawfrank Balvennie, a shearling ram bought at Kelso for £5000 from Allan Campbell. He is by Cambwell Aristocrat and out of ewe by Strathbogie Usher.

Hampshire Down

Entries from breed secretary and president, Janet Hill and Roy MacFarlane, secured two of the top four trophies amongst the Hampshire Downs.

Winning the big one and producing a personal best for Brian and Janet Hill and son George, was a home-bred two-crop ewe from their 20-ewe Isle of Bute flock. This big girl is by Whitehead Crusader, a tup bought at the flock dispersal which has been hugely influential in the breed, out of Isle of Bute Mairi.

Champion male was a December-born ram lamb from Roy and Jane McFarlane and daughter Lorna Rennie’s Lecropt flock from Bridge of Allan. He is by Kelsey Fantastic, a tup bought privately that has bred sons to 1200gns, out of Lecropt Ebony and stood second at Stirling Show earlier in the month.

First time exhibitor, Graham Manson, who owns the Dunraven flock of 50 ewes from Castlederg, Northern Ireland, was also in the money, winning the reserve supreme with his runner up female and the trophy for the second best male.

His best, a December-born ewe lamb is by the retained home-bred stock ram, Dunraven Hope and out of a home-bred ewe. She was second in her class at Balmoral.

A similarly aged tup lamb bred the same way scooped the reserve male honours fro Mr Manson who was exhibiting at Ingliston for the first time.

Swaledale

A bigger and better show of Swaledale sheep culminated in the tri-colour being presented to first time champion winners, Mark and Fiona Ewbank, of the 450-ewe Intake flock from Harrogate.

Taking centre stage here was a previously unshown home-bred tup hogg by a £3000 Clive Dent tup bought at Hawes in 2017, out of a home-bred show ewe by a £40,000 John Bland. He is destined for the breed sales in October.

Last year’s champion winner Thomas Brogden, this time had to settle with the blue and white rosette when his female champion a home-bred four-shear ewe was tapped reserve supreme. First in her class at Stainmore Show, this entry from Mr Brogden’s Brownber flock from Brough, Kirkby Stephen, is by a £6000 Paul Hallam sire and out of a ewe by Butteriggs Limelight.

Following her to secure the reserve female honours was a previously unshown ewe hogg from Stuart Bell’s Gillgate flock. She is by an £8000 Helbeck sire bought at Kirkby Stephen and bred from a home-bred ewe.

Father and son team, Dick and Greg Dalton, South Wellhope, bagged the blue and white sash amongst the males with a shearling ram bought last year at Hawes for £7000 from Ken Whitehead. He is by a Ken Whitehead sire and stood third in his class at Eastgate.

Bluefaced Leicester – traditional-type

It was a dream come true for Frank Johnson, who has always had winning the big one at Ingliston on his ‘bucket list’ when he scooped the breed title in his first year exhibiting.

Mr Johnson, who owns just 15 ewes in his Ashes flock from Bishop Auckland, triumphed with a three-crop Rossiebank ewe bought at the flock dispersal last year for 3000gns. Backed by the best of genetics, she is by the E11 Rossiebank sire which was unbeaten in his class in the show ring and stood overall champion at the first Scottish Progeny Show at Turriff. The dam, D66 Rossiebank was also unbeaten in the show ring. Such is the breeding potential of this female that the breeder, Robert Neill, Dunning, retained two ewe lambs from the champion prior to the flock dispersal to establish a new Broadleys flock.

A stronger show of traditional Blues as demand for the Cheviot Mule increases, saw the reserve overall go to a well-known show tup paraded by Scott Bell, shepherd at Alan Cowens, Philiphaugh unit at Selkirk. This was a three-shear Mendick-bred ram bought in 2016 for £3600 at Kelso, in partnership with Alan McClymont, Kirkstead. This monster of a tup which stood champion here in 2017 and reserve inter-breed, is by a Red Cottage ram and out of a Mendick ewe.

Alan McClymont’s other top show ram, a five-shear Burndale ram that stood champion here in 2016 and 2018 and made up part of the winning inter-breed pairs last year, landed the silverware for the runner-up male. He is by a B1 Bonvilston and out of a ewe by the D1 Myfyrian.

Best bred by exhibitor was the reserve female champion, the second prize ewe to the champion from Mickay and Nicky Gray’s Espley flock from Morpeth. She is by an F2 Ashes ram bought at Carlisle for £8500 that has bred sons to £10,000, while the dam is by a Grugoer tup.

Bluefaced Leicester – crossing type

Well-known pedigree sheep breeders, the Wights from Midlock, Abington, did the double in an extremely competitive crossing Blue section, winning both the champion and the reserve honours.

The family of Allan Wight, son Allan and his Ben, lifted the big one with a massive home-bred shearling ram which stood male champion here as a tup lamb on his sole previous outing. He is by the K1 Highberries tup bought at Hawes in 2017 for £10,000 out of a ewe by the E1 Barff House that bred a £12,000 shearling at Kelso. A breeder into the bargain, the Midlock tup was also the sire of the family’s first prize ewe lamb.

Their reserve, brought out by shepherds Brian Gilchrist and Iain Clarke, was a previously unshown gimmer by the K1 Shafthill bought for £7100 at Hawes. She is bred from two generations of previous champion winners here, being out of a ewe by the G2 Marriforth – one of 70 ewes in the flock.

Bringing up the rear in both the male and the female sections were home-bred entries from Andrew McQuistin and son Euan’s Barnshangan flock from Newton Stewart.

Their top female, a gimmer by the £5500 Blarnavaid tup bought at Stirling in partnership with the Farden flock, is bred from a home-bred ewe by the C18 Highberries. She stood first in her class here last year.

Taking the blue and white sash amongst the boys was a full brother to the gimmer which is also bred from the same flush as the £4000 tup lamb sold at Hawes, last year.

Charollais

It was very much a ladies day amongst the Charollais, when young females landed three of the top four awards.

Included in this was the champion and supreme overall from Aberdeenshire breeders, young Eilidh (18) and Erin (17) Duncan, who landed their first overall championship here in five years exhibiting.

The two sisters who run just 20 ewes in their Braemuir flock from Peterhead, went straight to the top with a home-bred gimmer by Loanhead Single Malt – a tup bought at Worcester – out of a home-bred show ewe by Riverdale Noble. She stood second here last year, champion at New Deer and reserve at the Black Isle.

Dumfriesshire breeder Hannah Sloan, Rigghead, Dumfries, also enjoyed her best ever year here, winning the best opposite sex with a tup lamb got by semen from Uncle Herbie Kenndy’s Tawelfa Rioga, a ram that bred a lot of the top priced lots at his Parkgate dispersal. The mother, a home-bred ewe is by Banwy Pick of The Crop. He was champion at Ayr Show.

Hannah, who had to pull out of her show jumping qualifier for HOYS staged at the same time when her Flash Man jumped clear, also scooped the blue and white sash amongst the males with Loanhead Rembrandt, a two-shear tup bought at Worcester, last year, by Rhaedr Orlando. He was reserve at Lesmahagow and first at Ayr.

Flying the flag for the opposite sex, Johnny Aiken, Wigton, who is still to win a supreme here, lifted his fifth reserve overall with a home-bred gimmer that scooped the reserve inter-breed honours at Northumberland, in May. She is by Oakchurch Ozil and bred from a show ewe out of a former show ewe from his parents’ Carnew flock.

Hebridean

Hebridean flockmasters had due cause to party at the show with the society celebrating it’s 25th anniversary and the huge increase in membership and registrations since its inception.

The society was founded in 1994 when pure Hebridean sheep were classed as a rare breed. Such has been the success that the society now boasts just shy of 400 members with just under 2000 registrations taken each year.

Hence, it was a particularly good year for semi-retired flock masters, Charles and Kathy Heeley, who notched up their third breed title with an entry from their Brightside flock from Penrith.

Their show stopper, a home-bred three-crop ewe is by Cinderhill Jotum – the champion winner here in 2014 – out of Brightside Lomond.

The Heeleys also bred the male champion, Brightside Wiay, a three-shear ram from veterinarian and vet lecturer, Dr John Mosley and his wife Caz, West Linton. The couple, who bought the ram at Lanark, in 2017 also secured the breed championship with him at the Border Union last year. Another by Cinderhill Jotun, he is out of Brightside Morrone.

The second prize winner in her class to the champion, a two-horned ewe from Kinross-based civil servants, Jack and Morna Cuthbert, followed her all the way through to land the reserve overall. This was Ardoch Freesia, a daughter of Slipperfield Erskine on her show debut. She is bred from the former champion winner here, Bearslair Lily, bought from Douglas Laurie some years ago.

A top winning shearling ram from part-time farm secretary, Vicky Mason, who owns just 10 ewes in her Sycamore flock from Nantwich, was presented the runner up ticket amongst the boys. Sycamore Kknight Grant, is by Knightley Vanilla Rice, out of a home-bred ewe and stood first at Cheshire, Staffs County and the Three Counties Shows.

North of England Mules

Neil Marston of the Highberries Bluefaced Leicester flock from Cockermouth, did the double amongst the North of England Mules, winning the supreme overall for a second consecutive year with a ewe lamb.

His star performer, a lamb that stood champion at Eastgate Show, is by Highberries Highlander, a tup owned in partnership with the Carryhouse flock, out of a Swaledale ewe bred by Dennis and Margaret Iveson.

Penrith-based flockmaster, Philip Elliot, Bankhouse, also lifted a second consecutive reserve but with the same sheep. This was a one-crop ewe bought as part of a pen of ewe lambs at Hexham, from J Reed, Lands Farm, Westgate. She bagged five local championships to include the reserve overall lowland entry at West Morland Show last year and was shown with twin-born Texel cross lambs at foot.

British Rouge

Worcester-based pedigree sheep breeder, Percy Tait, secured a ninth championship amongst the Rouge, winning this time with the previously unshown ewe, Knighton Sugar Tits, which two days later teamed up with the male winner from the same home to win the inter-breed sheep pairs.

The flock of 70 ewes with runs alongside 15 Bleu Du Maine and 25 pedigree Charollais, managed by Will Price, topped the section with a two-crop ewe backed by home-bred genetics on both sides.

Male champion was a home-bred two-shear ram by Tullyvallen Irish – a ram bought at Carlisle, in 2016, out of Knighton Kinky Kitten. He was champion at Shropshire, Staffordshire and North Somerset Shows.

Dumfriesshire breeder, Ian McConnell, swept up the remainder of the top awards, winning the reserve supreme with the second best female, a home-bred gimmer by the privately purchased, Ballylane Scotsman. She is out of a home-bred ewe and was on her first show outing.

The 22-strong ewe flock of which half is bred pure with the remainder tupped to a Beltex to breed cross-bred rams and ewe lambs to sell at Carlisle, scooped the blue and white ticket amongst the males with a January-born tup lamb. He is also by Ballylane Scotsman and out of a home-bred ewe.

Beltex

A cracking entry of more than 170 head was soon brought down to size by judge Andrew Baillie, who found his supreme overall in a classy home-bred gimmer from Jock McMillan’s 50-ewe Clary flock.

Living up to her name was Clary Delight, a daughter of the 7000gns Hackney Braveheart, brought out with assistance from Mr McMillan’s nephew, William McMillan.

Providing a second supreme here for the Newton Stewart-based flock, Delight, which stood fifth here last year on her sole previous outing, is bred from the show ewe, Clary Taboo, a daughter of the Belgian sire, 1776.

The Copeland family was well rewarded for their long trip south from Orkney too, when they picked up the male title and the reserve overall with a tup lamb. Orkney Escobar is by Ardstewart Chisum, a 5000gns purchase last year at Carlisle, out of Orkney Aristocrat, by Corstane Hustler – a former male champion here.

Young Alasdair MacLean, all the way from Tiree, also had a good show, scooping the reserve female honours whilst also being the breeder of the equivalent amongst the males.

His star performer, Tiree Elegance, a mid March-born ewe lamb which is a full ET sister to several top priced rams to include a 7000gns shearling at Carlisle, is by Callacrag Wise Crack – a 13,000gns purchase shared with the Corstane and Headlind flock. The dam is a home-bred Tiree ewe by Corstane Waitangi.

Tiree Carter, a two-shear ram from Procters Farm, Slaidburn, Lancs, lifted the reserve male honours with young Katie Aiken (12) at the helm. A full brother to Mr MacLean’s reserve overall winner here last year, Tiree Clover and the 8000gns Tiree Benchmark, Carter is also by Wise Crack, but bred from Tiree Spice. The tup, which cost 2800gns at Carlisle, last year, is owned in partnership with Nick Bronic.

Zwartbles

Dumfriesshire dairy farmers, Andrew and Joyce Millar, son Neil and daughter Alison, had a field day at Ingliston, winning the reserve amongst the Bleus, while also taking the supreme overall in the Zwartbles.

Producing a personal best for this 25-ewe Joyfield flock which has only been exhibiting here since 2016, was a home-bred two-shear ram shown by Neil Millar. Joyfield Emperor, a previously unshown tup backed by home-bred genetics on both sides, is by Joyfield Sir Benson and out of Joyfield Tash, a ewe that has bred daughters to 2000gns.

Female champion and reserve overall was a Whinnow-bred gimmer from Peter and Susan Addison’s Hayberries flock from Barnard Castle, Co Durham. She is by Stainmore Earl Grey, out of a Skyhigh 82T ewe and was bought at Carlisle, last November from her breeders, Tom and Gillian Blamire, Thursby. She was second at Northumberland Show in May.

Following her to scoop the runner up ticket amongst the girls was Stuart Craig’s ewe lamb, Craigies Gladraggs, a January-born ewe lamb that stood first at the National Show at Stirling for the 80-ewe flock from Melrose. Her sire is the Wallacetown Cairn-sired Craigies Flippin Eck, which was retained for breeding, while her dam is Eildon Hill Aftershock.

It was a similarly aged tup lamb that notched up the equivalent amongst the males for Nicola Henderson’s sons’ Rowan (3) and Struan’s (1) Mischief flock from Stirling. Their entry which stood first at Drymen and second at the National, is by Millburn Sam, a tup used on loan from the Joyfield flock, out of the privately purchased, Joyfield Amelia Lila, bought privately from Cameron and Chloe Cormack.

Scotch Mule

Having brought out the male champion amongst the Blackies the previous day, young Finlay Robertson (16) West Calder, enjoyed an even better day on the Friday, winning the supreme overall in the popular Scotch Mule section.

The youngster who runs the 20-ewe Beeches Bluefaced Leicester flock with his father, John, bagged the big one with a home-bred gimmer by a K4 Midlock, bought at Hawes for £2200, out of a Crosswoodhill-bred ewe. No stranger to the limelight, this big girl stood champion at Biggar and Peebles, last year.

Last year’s winners, the Wight family from Midlock, Abington, this time had to settle with the runner-up sash for their home-bred one-crop ewe. She stood third here last year and is by the £6000 J6 Hewgill that bred the £37,000 Midlock tup that sold to Andrew Campbell and Jamie Pirie. Her dam is home-bred.

A cracking entry of almost 30 ewe lambs, saw the top three, come from the Shennan family’s Farden farm from Girvan, for the second year in succession. Their section leader this time, shown by Allan Shennan, is by a home-bred tup retained for breeding that is a full ET brother to a £10,000 lamb sold at Hawes last year, by the £5500 J14 Blarnavaid.

Bleu Du Maine

Aberdeenshire breeders, Callum and Rachel Cruden, from Dyce, went one better than their reserve win last year, to scoop the supreme overall with a bought-in ewe.

The couple who have been breeding Bleus for six years and run just 12 ewes led the line-up with Dunelm Pippa, a one-crop ewe bought last year at Carlisle from Jonathan Stables. She is by Rumwell Jonas, out of Dunelm Moveit and was on her first outing since the sale.

Following her to lift the runner-up trophy was the reserve female from the opposite end of the country. This was a gimmer from Dumfriesshire dairy farmer, Neil Millar who was exhibiting for the first time in the Bleu lines. His winner Aviemore Ruby, a gimmer bought privately from Bruce Mair, Turriff is by Perdi Ontop and out of a Tigh-na-Hinch-bred female.

Regular winner, William Baillie, Covington Mill, Thankerton, scooped the tri-colour amongst the males with a home-bred shearling ram by Maximum Obama, a tup that bred the breed leader here last year for the Calla flock. Previously unshown, he is out of a home-bred ewe.

And, Obama, a tup bred by Sally Shone which was resold at Carlisle, last year to Laine Daff, Uplawmoor, was back in fine form to lift the blue and white sash amongst the boys for a second year in succession. He is by a Perdi sire and out of Maximum Mayflower, a Calla King Kong daughter. He boasts championship wins at Neilson, Largs and Kilbarchan, this year.

Shetland

Four times bridesmaid, Joan Brunton, East Lothian, won her first breed title amongst the competitive Shetland lines with a home-bred gimmer from her 21-ewe Fieldview flock.

Show stopper for Mrs Brunton who regularly scoops the top awards at local agricultural events, was the white Fieldview Esmee, a prize winner last year by Fieldview Abraham, out of Fieldview Ismay.

Just pipped at the post was a white two-year-old ram from Andrew Bain’s Greenacre flock from Pencaitland. Island Ruaridh, was bought on Shetland from Eric Graham as a lamb in 2017 and is by Morley Thomson’s BT Bravo, and out of an Island-bred ewe. He was champion at Duns last year.

Last year’s winner, Mrs Rena Douglas who owns the Drum flock from Craigrothie, Cupar, again came up with the goods too, landing the reserve male honours with a home-bred white shearling ram.

Leading the coloured entries was a home-bred one-crop ewe from Patrick, Denise and son Alex Playfair, Stichfield, Eastfield, Kelso. Their Kaimknowe Bluebell, which stood reserve female here last year on her sole previous outing, is by Kaimknowe Bronwyn and out of the privately purchased Hillend Cauldron – one of 80 ewes in the flock.

Blue Texels

For the third year on the trot, an entry from Paul and Christine Tippett’s Hackney flock all the way from Shropshire, scooped silverware for the overall champion.

Their best this time brought out by shepherd Aled Groucott, was a home-bred gimmer that was champion at the Three Counties the previous week. Unbeaten in her class both as a gimmer and a ewe lamb, she boasts some top notch genetics, being sired by the 18,000gns record priced ram, Joe’s Alvin, a former champion and top male winner here. The dam is Hackney Yikes, which was breed leader at last year’s Royal Welsh Show.

Dumfriesshire breeder, Kevin Watret, Maulscastle, and shepherd Ali Jackson, had a great show, winning the British Blue cattle section the previous day and two of the top four awards amongst the Blue Texels.

Their best, a home-bred gimmer on her show debut lifted the reserve overall. She is by Solwayview Badger, a ram retained for breeding by a Corra sire that has already produced ram lambs to 3800gns. The dam is a Belgian ewe.

The 20-ewe flock also scooped the male honours with the section winner from Cumberland Show, a two-shear ram by Hackney Yardman bred from a Corra ewe.

Horse dentist, Deborah Atkinson, who owns the Tap O’ Noth flock just outside Auchleven in Aberdeenshire, was again in the tickets too winning the runner-up trophy amongst the boys with a home-bred shearling ram. Tap O’ Noth Chief, which was on his show debut, is by Xana Black Magic, bred from a Millside ewe and is destined for the breed sale at Carlisle, in August.